New centre will provide a safe place for people experiencing homelessness to gather indoors, and connect them to treatment and recovery services.

VANCOUVER - BC NDP candidates Amanda Burrows (Vancouver-Strathcona) and Terry Yung (Vancouver-Yaletown) today announced consistent funding for the Ashtrey Recovery Resource Centre, as well as funding for an additional centre in the Downtown Eastside, to allow people experiencing homelessness across the Downtown core a place to congregate indoors during the day.

“I work in the Downtown Eastside, and I see every day how important it is for people to have safe, welcoming places where they can meet their basic needs with dignity,” said Amanda Burrows. “That means access to food, bathrooms, showers and people who can connect them to housing, health care, treatment and recovery. Ashtrey is already showing us what’s possible when we bring these supports together. By investing in what’s working and expanding access to these types of services, we can improve people’s health and well being while building a safer, healthier community for everyone.”

The Ashtrey Recovery Resource Centre was established to give people who are street-involved, homeless, or at risk of homelessness, a place to be during the day - and connects them to on-site recovery and sobriety services, as well as healthcare services, food, hygiene and storage.

The new day space centre, which will be located in the Downtown Eastside, will provide people who are experiencing homelessness or living in SROs across the downtown core a place to congregate during the day. Right now, people are able to stay in a shelter at night but have nowhere to go during the day, contributing to the very visible challenges we see on the streets downtown.

When open, the centre will operate 12 hours per day, seven days per week so people have a place to go. It will be staffed by peer support workers, and will also provide on-site connections to primary healthcare, addictions treatment, and employment services.

This is part of our work to get people indoors, out of encampments and get them access to supports.

“I walked the beat in the Downtown Eastside as a VPD officer, and I can tell you that public safety requires more than policing,” said Terry Yung. “To reduce street homelessness, we need to create spaces where people can congregate safely during the day - both to support people who need help and address the visible challenges that we’re seeing on our streets in Yaletown.”

SUPPORT FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT:

“Any initiative that gives people experiencing serious addiction or mental health challenges better access to shelter, support, and treatment deserves consideration. Properly resourced and accountable daytime facilities have the potential to improve conditions for vulnerable individuals while reducing some of the public disorder affecting communities and the pressures on first responders. However, these facilities must be part of a broader approach that also ensures police and other first responders have effective pathways to connect people who are unable to care for themselves with appropriate treatment and services.” - Tom Stamatakis, President, Canadian Police Association

“Our city and cities throughout BC have been struggling with the effects of mental health and street disorder. The commitments made today go a long way and begins the process of offering tangible, compassionate support for those in need.” - Nate Sabine, Member, Hospitality Vancouver Association Board of Directors

“The Ashtrey day centre is for people in the DTES offering washrooms, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, heating and air conditioning, nutritious food, washrooms, comfortable seating areas, Wi-Fi and technology access, outdoor lounge space, housing support, and addiction recovery programs. We help people get off the street, provide food, clothing, and basic hygiene and amenities, and when people are feeling better, and ready to make a change, we support participants on a path to treatment and recovery.” - Sarah Blyth, Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society